Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

608

Materia Medica

Emmenagogues

American Peneroyal is different from this I am speaking of but it is also an emmenagogue of great power particularly in cases of sparing menstruation.

Cantharides. The Tinct Cantharides in doses of 15 or 20 gtt. [drops] morning, noon, & night increasing has been recommend in high terms as an emmenagogue and antyhysteric.

Phosphorus. This is the most powerfull, heating stimulant we know, the dose is 1/10 of a grain intimately mix'd with Gum Arabic in the following manner.

Rx Phosphorus grs i [1 grain] Ol. Olivar ℥iij [3 ounces] G. Arabic ℥i [1 ounce]

M intimately and give one table spoonfull every two hours, in this way it is verry powerful; I have used it in a case of low Typhus in the alms house not yet cured.

Helleborus Niger. A Spiritous tincture of the root of the plant is known by the name of "Tincture Melancholia" or Hellebore. I have given this to the extent of 40 gtt [drops] or 50 twice a day increasing gradually, I have gone to the extent of 1, 2, 3, & 4 Ʒ [drams]. I think upon the whole this is one of the most important articles as an emmenagogue that we are acquainted with.

Rue. This deserves attention, it is an emmenagogue